The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-05

things to running in my home as if they
were oiled, as they do in yours"
"Let me tell you, Joe, there is one
wonderful word that works like magic.
Sometimes have spelled it over to my
self, and thought of the height and depth
of its power. Now don't think L am get
ting sentimental in my old days, when 1
tell you the word is love. Every man is
supposed to love his own wife, il fortunate
enough to have one. But in some cases
it is only superstition, while the truth
Is, the husband is being fairly consumed
with love of himself; he is loving his own
contemplate self with so great love
that when his wife's eelf-denial pleases
his fancy, and her womanly ministry is
satisfying to him, he imagines his over
weening love of self to be an affection
for her. am only very practical man,
and when l say love an object, whether
it be wife, child, church or state, I mean
that think myself willing to deny self
for their sakes, and not that I am filled
to overflowing with such self-love that
/ am greedy to monopolizs every sur
rounding good without giving in return.
1 have recipe for making happy homes
that is more effective than any wizards
charm, but it is not every man who will
swallow the Dose"
"John, you always were a queer chap;
but can stand your queerness if other
folks can. What new recipe have your"
"Oh, it is nothing new; it is old as the
Sermon on the Mount. 1t is only this
Husband, love your wife as yourself
Whatever you keep for yourself give as
much to her. know there are some
cross curmudgeons OF women that it is a
wonder any man ever imagined himself
in love with them. But still it is their
husbands duty to give them fair show
ing. But here am home. and, so, Cou-
sin Joe, we must finish our talk another
time. Give the recipe to your neighbors,
and tell them to digest it in the practice
thereof. Good night, Joe.'
With responsive good night, Joe
Benton went his way homeward. When
his own house was reached and he entered
the doorway no welcoming smile greeted
him. Only cold supper and scolding
on the end Of his wife's tongue awaited
his tardy return. With half dozen
romping children to care for and all her
own homework to perform, with a fire.
quent addition of hired hands to cook for,
what wonder the woman looked haggard,
and cross, and altogether ENJOYABLE. Joe
Benton mentally contrasted the scene be-
fore him with the bright, happy time that
he knew his cousin John would be enjoy
ing in his pleasant parlor, beaming with
the sunshine of wife and children; and the
more he thought the heavier grew the
scowl on his brow. In Sullen silence he
ate his cold evening meal; and there was
no one in the family with sunshine
enough to dispel the gloom. A disagree.
able evening was passed, and when bed
time came all were glad to forget the grim
unpleasantness in sound sleep. But Joe
Benton's sleep was neither sound nor
sweet, for uncomfortable dreams haunted
his pillow. His wife seemed to have
taken possession of his farm, and was
owner Of his herd of cattle and drove of
hogs, while he was helpless dependent,
and hadn't dollar of his own only as he
could coax his wife into letting him have
little money when he sorely needed a
new pair of boots; when his best coat
was entirely thread bare, she would give
him barely enough money to buy poor
article of the kind he wanted. Then his
wife managed the whole farming affairs,
and sowed wheat where corn should have
been planted, and did everything gener-
ally to annoy him in an exceedingly vexa.
tious way.
When morning dawned and Joe
Benton opened his eyes, he almost expect
ed to see before him the little imp that
had broken his sleep with such trouble
some dreams. But the trouble was only
his invisible conscience, that had AVA
kened and was trying to arouse him to a
sense of duty. To quiet conscience, he
offered it compromise. And as soon as
his wife awoke he said in gentler tone
than was his won't "Wife, mine, I have
been thinking over the past, and it seems
to me that we both have worked pretty
hard these years and ought to be taking
times little easier now; you are not so
strong as you used to be, and il you
could hire help SO you could be more
rested and CHEEKY like, you would enjoy
life better and matters all around might
be pleasant like. 1 never could see my
way clear to do as Cousin John does in
his affairs; but / have concluded to give
you twenty dollars a month the year
around, if that will suit YOU" Now Joe
Benton thought himself doing an ex-
ceptionally generous act, and expected
his wife to smile upon him like an angel,
and to overwhelm him with an outpour-
ing of thankfulness; but the only reply
was smothered sob from the depths OF
the pillows, and his wife lay by his side
crying as il her heart we're breaking.
Well, women are the strangest Great
ures / ever did see!" was Joe Benton's
mental ejaculation.
The well-meant, kindly tone and an
offer more generous than her stinted life
had known since girlhood days SO deep
ly touched his wife's feelings that she
oould not at frat ranlv hut wban che